(CNN) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sunday declared President Obama's stimulus plan is "terrific," an assessment that sharply differs from many of his Republican colleagues.

In an appearance on CNN's State of the Union, Schwarzenegger said he welcomes his state's share of the massive $787 billion package, believing it could create as many as 400,000 new jobs.

"We welcome this economic stimulus package. I think it's terrific and will help us," the California governor said. "We were happy even though there's…people complaining. It's not what they envisioned, but what is? The people will give you 1,000 different answers.

"It was Obama that got elected. He put the package together, so let's support it," he also said.

Schwarzenegger's comments differ sharply from those of Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, who earlier on State of the Union said he would turn down some of the stimulus money because it could lead to future spending requirements from his state.

Specifically Barbour took issue with extensions to unemployment benefits called for in the package, which he believes the state will have to finance after the federal funds run out.

But Schwarzenegger disagreed, suggesting the added unemployment benefits can be cut off once the economy rebounds.

"If you promise people this money will come next year and the year after that, you'll have a major problem," he said. "But if you use the money for one-time spending…it cannot hurt."

soundoff(412 Responses)

Take the money. Sure beats solving the states illegal immigration problem, which is partly responsible for their financial woes.

February 22, 2009 03:04 pm at 3:04 pm |

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia in CA

Who cares if some of them don't take it. Let their constituents "man up" for a change and vote out the white hair hags as a result.

February 22, 2009 03:04 pm at 3:04 pm |

Fan of Common Sense

Arnold, go back to Hollywood. You might as well, because you are not worth a nickel as a politician. Your state was an economic basket case when you took office, but you have only made it worse by making it a haven for illegal immigrants and environmental extremists. Now, by endorsing this idiotic socialization of America, you seem determined to bring the same carnage on the national economy. YOU ARE DEFINITELY NO GOVERNOR RONALD REAGAN!!

February 22, 2009 03:05 pm at 3:05 pm |

Cindy Nelson

Poor Governator,

They will start coming out against him, because he's more moderate.
The religious right control freaks will start their propaganda against Arnold if he doesnt watch out.

February 22, 2009 03:06 pm at 3:06 pm |

Onthewall

J Bailey @ 1355 hrs, look, when you speak truth like this, please keep one good eye over your shoulder and more importantly, stay prayed up! HOLY GOD bless you!
Remember, no man can do what HOLY GOD hasn't ordained, even on earth!

February 22, 2009 03:06 pm at 3:06 pm |

J.E.E

Correction, I'm sorry, $200,000,000( two hundred million)./wk

February 22, 2009 03:06 pm at 3:06 pm |

Mark

I live in ca and am embarrassed by this Steroid idiot. I voted for this fraud to replace Gray Davis and he is worse. He wants the money to bailout CA. All these crooked lying thieves who bought houses they could not afford should be thrown on the street. instead we are bailing out all these scum bags. I hope the Stimulus plan fails.

February 22, 2009 03:07 pm at 3:07 pm |

Adrian in CA

Ha. Of course he thinks it's terrific... our state is broke and Obama is giving us money.

If Osama bin Laden came up and said, "Here's a few billion" Arnie would say "Osama is terrific."

February 22, 2009 03:07 pm at 3:07 pm |

Texas Teacher

Well, then Schwarzenegger has some sense... maybe has been listening to his wife! I don't how he has seen the light... but I am glad that he has!

The sky is falling and the repubs along with Limbaugh want us to see their version of that. THEY DO HAVE THEIR AGENDA! They do not want to give up their power. Thank you, Gov. Schwarzenegger! 🙂

February 22, 2009 03:08 pm at 3:08 pm |

vick

get a life terminator

February 22, 2009 03:08 pm at 3:08 pm |

nom deplume, esq.

It astonishes me how much the people on this board just don't understand the issue. Accepting the money in exchange for modifying state law will impose new state tax burdens on employers eventually. Those employers need only cross the state line to avoid the new taxes. GOP governors see this as an opportunity to increase employment in their states. Even Rendell sees that.

The only way to avoid it is, as Ah-nold suggests, to take the fed money now, and later renege on the agreement to continue the benefits. So which camp is being more honest about what will happen in the future? Barbour and Jindal, or the governors that will take the money and try to punk out later (and screw their constitutents) or raise taxes later (and screw local employers)?

But after I read this blog, it is no longer a wonder that capital is fleeing this country at an unprecedented rate.

February 22, 2009 03:09 pm at 3:09 pm |

I told you so

I can't wait to hear who gets to say I told you so. after a few years of this.

February 22, 2009 03:09 pm at 3:09 pm |

king ASBED, OH

I will call California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a brave objective politician who voice out his opinion on an issue even the whole world says otherwise. Yea i blv his party will shun him on this no doubt about that. but the shows a brave he is.
ARNOLD YOU ARE A TRUE PATRIOT AND WOULD VOTE FOR YOUR PRESIDENCY IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE. LET ME KNOW THOUGH WHEN EVER YOU ARE ELIGIBLE.

NO MORE PARTY POLITICS! AT LEAST NOT NOW!NOT WHEN PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS BECAUSE OF OTHERS' GREED.

February 22, 2009 03:10 pm at 3:10 pm |

long

I think getting us out of debt is going to help us more than this stimulus. People just need to stop putting everything on their credit card and use cash. That's what got us into this whole thing too many people getting into debt. If Obama wants to try this stimulus, let him, but I think he needs to be more concerned about getting us out of debt. I mean that's one of the reasons everyone hated Bush, this stimulus is just going to put us more billions of dollars in debt.

February 22, 2009 03:10 pm at 3:10 pm |

gilsta

Lest we forget, part of the stimulus was absolutely necessary to bring those who have been almost destroyed by this event, some degree of basic life and living assistance. I'm sure there are many of you reading this page who will be without a job within the next 3 months for the first time in your lives, perhaps then you will begin to lose the learned selfish behavior believing it is you who makes the world go round.

February 22, 2009 03:10 pm at 3:10 pm |

Joe

I think the fact that Arnold's state is getting a lot of the money, does make him happy, why wouldnt it? I am not an economist, but these people that think stimulus plans are a bad idea, have no idea how bad things would get with out it? they think they do, but they have absolutely no clue. If you believe the stimulus plan is bad, do you have any better ideas?? if so let's hear them. I think Obama is doing the best he can right now, which is more than I can say for past presidents no names mentioned. Give the man a chance, show some respect, he is the President of the "United" states. Although I was not a big fan of our formr president, I still respected him because he was the President of the United States, and that is the bottom line. Isnt it awesome to live in a country where we can post comments like this with out being persecuted? God Blessa America!!!!

February 22, 2009 03:11 pm at 3:11 pm |

paul

for everyone slamming california for taking a big chunk why dont you look into how much our state puts in. 7th largest economy in the world and no one complains when the time's are good and we're contributing a chunk load in taxes.

and to dan in az....i dont think it was californians who overdeveloped your desert and now your state is abundant with empty homes and a large amount of foreclosures.

February 22, 2009 03:11 pm at 3:11 pm |

tim

Another actor that thinks he knows somthing. Obama is a joke as well. He did nothing but ruin everyones future with the bailout. Forced down our throats before anyone could read it. Now we all will pay and pay we will.

February 22, 2009 03:12 pm at 3:12 pm |

Jim

CA supports the rest of the country – so all you CA haters and whiners – buzz off. We never get back what we pay in tax dollars – South Carolina whiners take home $1.35 for every $1 they send to Washington – total welfare state. I say – If a repub governor doesn't want some of the money – don't give them any – then see how their citizens react.. These are the same eggheads that drink at the trough of Rushannity – the new republican religion!

I can't stand Arnold – he was a wishy washy governor that never would have been elected if not for a recall – he campigned on the principle that no one would raise vehicle taxes on his hummer – and now he is raising vehicle taxes. He never took on the prison guard unions...

Leave us be here in CA – we will survive – 8th largest economy in the world and darn proud of it! Our real estate goes up/down like a yo yo and we all survive.

The only people that leave this state are the ones that can't make it! So Sorry.

February 22, 2009 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |

Ron

Arnold is a moron, simple as that. Had he run the state better, he would not have to be at the money hand out

February 22, 2009 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |

Carl Justus

All of the leaders should get behind the bail out and talk it up so the country will have more confidence. This partisan crowd did not say one thing about the 700 billion Bush got for the rich investment bankers. That was good potitics even though it did not put one cent in the hands of those who will spend it to create jobs.

Jindal, Barbour, Sanford, Pawlenty are hypocrites if they take one dime of the money. They say it will increase the debt, the same debt that Bush increased 6 TRILLION DOLLARS AND NOT ONE OF THEM SAID ONE WORD ABOUT THAT INCREASING THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL DEBT.

February 22, 2009 03:14 pm at 3:14 pm |

Rangerdan

Wow, you Conservatives really are a selfish lot. All I hear from your mouths are me and mine. If I had your attitude I would have not gone to Iraq the three times I have been there. Unfortunately a majority elected Bush and he said I had to go so I went. Now the majority is saying you people have to stop thinking of only yourselves and start thinking about everyone. Good thing you guys are Christians. Nice milk of human kindness. Sometimes I wonder why I have spent twenty years of my life giving it up for others, when those same people who are the first to send me to war are the last to help anyone else out except themselves.

February 22, 2009 03:15 pm at 3:15 pm |

Brian

Everyone has an opinion on the stimulus so I'll spare you mine, which is equally irrelevant.

However, does everyone else get the impression that many Republican leaders would like to see the stimulus fail? Whether you support it or not, it has been passed. Why not then throw your support behind it to give it our best shot? It's too early to be pointing fingers.

February 22, 2009 03:16 pm at 3:16 pm |

Pat F

In debt? Can't pay your bills? Dreaming of that wonderful vacation or that McMansion that you are sure you deserve even though you only get earn $18,000 a year as a greeter at Wal-Mart – when you can bother to go in?

Then BORROW BORROW BORROW and never repay a dime at the Barry O. National Bank of Washington DC! A branch office is coming to a Democratic State Near You Soon!

Feed at the trough all you want, with never a bill to pay in sight!

Don't let the threat of hard work and trouble of saving money stand in the way of what you DESERVE! Get your unearned reward TODAY!

February 22, 2009 03:16 pm at 3:16 pm |

John

other peoples' money February 22nd, 2009 1:51 pm ET

I really don't understand how getting into more debt is going to solve the problems that debt got us into in the first place. Any economist worth listening to is saying these "bailouts" are a mistake.

That is a straight out lie. Most of the best minds in economics are saying this stimulus package is exactly what the country needs. If your going to spew your rhetroic, please do some reseach instead of blantantly lie about facts. Republican mantra at its best.